IN SOOTH I SAY IT, SIR

IN SOOTH I SAY IT, SIR 

It is not good to lecture with a prior objective of praising, even if the subject be such an exalted one as a Ramakrishna or a Vivekananda. Propaganda is not projection of truth. Preaching should be objective, impartial, factual and rationally analyzed, not predetermined to lifting the reputation of a person in the public eye. Let truth be presented and if it indeed be the truth, it shall prevail. This enforcement of 'truth', this inducement to believing, this clever maneuvering of public consciousness to a predetermined preferred viewpoint is not desirable. Let the people judge rather than they be conditioned to doing so by selective quotes about pertinent issues, disproportionately stressed episodes to achieve a definite end, and raising a great one by running down others. In the plainest terms, let not veneration for one's ideal personality border in a public lecture on venturing uncalled for on his behalf to establishing him in common consciousness. It simply does not work the wonders the preachers imagine it does. The common man is highly discerning and can sift the grain from the chaff, if even unconsciously. So, be sincere in your assessment, refrain from hyperboles and do not go overboard in your bid to strike roots in the public mind on behalf of your hero whose life and actions you are upholding. Sycophancy, however exalted, remains sycophancy nonetheless and cannot conduce to any lasting good. Do not befuddle the common man's understanding by introducing bugs in his brain through your over-enthusiasm for the hero of your heart. Do not make man, susceptible as he is to error of judgement through ordinary unreasonableness, further confounded by your quasi-rational assertions. Present truth in a proportionate manner balanced by context and content, whole, and not cherry-picked preferred passages that suit your convenience. Let truth prevail in real intent. Do so and your preaching will cast anchor in the human heart. Else, it will drift away like so much flotsam in the hightide of the mass mind.

Written by Sugata Bose 

Photo : 'M' or Mahendranath Gupta, the chronicler of 'Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita' / 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' who was a notable exception in this regard. His account of the Master's last years on earth are as graphic as they are true to 'stenographic accuracy'. 'M' has concealed himself under six pseudonyms to project the Master in his natural light, free of the shadow of his chronicler, a feature absent in the Socratic Dialogues of Plato where the latter is all over and the sage, whose dialogues are being presented, has been eclipsed by his recorder's presence and presentation thereof. This has been Swamiji's assessment of the relative virtues of Ramakrishna's Gospel and Socratis' Dialogues. So far we have mentioned only the written part of it but, by extension and in truth, the same holds true for propaganda speeches by even monks of exalted attributes where, through common human folly, they over-glorify their heroes of heart by resorting to hyper-praise tactic and disbalanced, disproportionate emphasis on episodes and elements of their lives that deflect them from presenting truth in impartial terms and with correctness. Here one must be circumspect.